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The Hornet's Nest 



Sketch of Revolutionary War 
at Qiarlotte and the Vicinity 

By MR. HERIOT CXARKSON 




Reproduced from the North Carolina Booklet 

OCTOBER J 0th, J 90} 




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By transrer 
The Hiite House. 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



Mr. Gladstone has truthfully said: 
"Rely upon it, that the man who does 
not worthily estimate his own dead 
forefathers, will himself do very little 
to add credit or do honor to his coun- 
try." 

That truth applies with equal force to 
communities and nations. The chroni- 
cler should be exact, so that we can 
eschew that which is evil and do the 
thing that is good. 

"All these things happened unto them. 
for examples." People of every land 
who loved liberty and who believed that 
every man should serve his conscience 
made America their destination. Two 
great systems oppressed all Europe. 
Feudalism of State and Church. 

Wickliffe about the middle of the 
fourteenth century translated the Bible 
into English— this was the beacon light 
in a dark age. "He opened the book of 
stone and the water flowed out." This 
was the beginning of the reformation 
which rapidly spread in England and 
elsewhere which was planted in Eng- 
land under Henry VHI and firmly 
rooted by Elizabeth. The defeat of the 
Spanish Armada forever fixed it in 
England. It was established through 
Martin Luther In Germany. The Re- 
formed Church and State in England 
united, and the transition was easier, al- 
though not without courage and mar- 
tyrdom. 

The storm-center was in Scotland and 
Prance, homes of the Covenanter and 
the Huguenot. A little man — and feeble 
of body when he became the leader of 
freedom of conscience — was John Klnox 
at the age of forty. He was of all 
Scotchmen most beloved by the Cov- 
enanter. For two years he served the 
French as a galley-slave for his convic- 
tions. "No free assembly," said he, "no 
free gospel." Mary Queen of Scotts, the 
most beautiful woman of her day, with 
all of her wonderful charms and attrac- 
tive ways, could not swerve him from 
his purpose. She asked him: "Think you 
that subjects, having power, may resist 
their princes?" Knox replied: "If their 
princes exceed the bounds, madam, and 
do against that for which they should 
be obeyed, it is no doubt but that they 
may be resisted." The divine right of 
kingrs and queens in the answer la de- 



nied, and the divine right of conscience 
asserted. These ideas were engrafted la 
the creed of the Covenanter. In the 
trials that came to Scotland, thousands 
of sturdy, heroic men and women were 
compelled to leave their native land. 
They scattered through America. From 
the Scotch settlement in the North of 
Ireland they came — the Scotch-Irish. 
Some of them drifted to the Carolinas, 
and with the shrewd qualities of the 
Scotch, they settled in the fertile and 
beautiful Piedmont region of the Caro- 
linas. The strongest settlement was in 
the county of Mecklenburg. One in- 
stance of persecution in Scotland Is 
sufRcient. In the cemetery at Stirling is 
a beautiful sculpture which is greatly 
admired. Two figures representing the 
"Virgin Martyrs" with an angel fisrure 
in the background all enclosed in glas3. 
The story is partly told by Macaulay in 
his history of England. 

On the 11th day of May 1685, during 
the persecuting reign of James II, Mar- 
garet MacLachlan and Agnes Wilson, 
the latter only eighteen years of age, 
were tied to stakes at low water in th'? 
Bay of Wigton and drowned by the ris- 
ing of the Solway tide. The following 
inscription is on the marble with S(»veral 
eniblematic designs: 

MARGARET. 
"Virgin Martyr of the ocean wave with 

her like minded sister," Agnes. 

"Love many waters cannot quench— God 
saves 
His chaste, Impearled one in Covenant 
true 
O' Scotia's daughters! earnest scan the 
page 
/Ind prize this flower of grace, blood 
bought for you." 

We turn to France and Geneva — Cal- 
vin is the center fig-ure. The general 
massacre of Protestants on St. Barth- 
olomew's Day shocked all Europe — this 
was in 1572. France was drenched in 
blood, but the Protestants never yield- 
ed. After eight religious wars covering 
a period of about thirty years. King 
Henry, of Navarre on April 13th, 1598, 
signed the famous Edict of Nantes, by 
which the rights of the Protestants 
were established, and they were al- 
lowed freedom of religion. Louis XVI 
nearly a century after, on October 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



23rd, 1685, revoked It. The Prot- 
estants were fearfully persecuted. 
Their marriages were declared null 
— children deprived of inheritance — 
preachers Indiscriminately put to 
death. France lost by this time 
more than one million of her most ac- 
tive, enterprising and industrious cit- 
izens. About two million continued to 
adhere to the Protestant religion. Can 
any nation point to such heroic adher- 
ence to principle? The fight has con- 
tinued to the present time and has been 
recently revive'd by the law known as 
the "Law of Association Bill." These 
Huguenots, like the Covenanters, left 
home and native land, scattered 
throughout America, and large num- 
bers settled in the Eastern part of the 
Carolinas. This was early in the eigh- 
teenth century, and they then and 
there planted the principles of civil 
liberty. About the same time and lat'^r 
the Scotch and Scotch-Irish (Scotch 
from Ulster in the North of Ireland) 
were settling Western Carolina along 
the Piedmont region. Alexander Craig- 
head thundered from his pulpit at Sugar 
Creek Presbyterian church. This 
church is four miles north of 
Charlotte; the church has been 
rebuilt several times. He was well 
versed in the history of his church. 
"No free assembly, no free gospel," 
equal rights to the Protestants of all 
'denominations. He believed in the rule 
of the people in church and State. From 
those fathers of freedom of conscience, 
Knox, Buchanan. Boston, Erskine and 
others, he no doubt drew inspiration. 
Craighead is buried in Sugar Creek 
church graveyard. In the cemetery 
(Elmwood) in Charlotte is a monument 
erected to his memory, and on It these 
words: "Advocate of American Indepen- 
dence from 1743" "Inspirer of the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration." The Presbyterian 
Clergy one year after his death (176") 
were for the first time in North Carolina 
allowed to perform the marriage cere- 
mony. Who can tell if this was not 
thro'ugh his influence? Nine years later 
we find that the May convention of 
1775. held in Charlotte, is composed of 
members of Sugar Creek church (the 
parent church) and the other five Pres- 
byterian churches in Mecklenburg coun- 
ty and one in Iredell, (then Rowan). 
The chairman of that convention was 
naturally elected from the congregation 
of Sugar Creek church, the parent 
church. He was Abraham Alexander, 
and is buried in old Sugar Creek church 
graveyard. 

Of the persons chosen to meet in the 
May assembly, one was a Presbyterian 
minister named Hezekiah James Balch, 
and there were seven elders, and other 
rrembers ot the Presbyterian church- 



in all twenty-seven. While the Coven- 
anters were meeting in Piedmont Caro- 
lina the Huguenots and their allies were 
doing the same in Eastern Carolina, 
when thf proposition went forth for a 
general convention of all the States to 
ci'Titer together for mutual protection 
against the unjust taxes imposed by 
Great Britain without representation, 
South Carolina was among the first to 
r-'Sfond and appointed delegates. In de- 
fipnce of the remonstrance and menaces 
of Lieutenant Governor Bull, a provin- 
cial Congress of delegates, chosen by 
the people, met in Charleston on the 
11th of January 1775. It approved the 
proceedings of the General Congress. It 
went further; it selected a committee to 
see that the recommendations were 
complied with. On such a committee 
strong men were needed — men of cour- 
age — a revolution was at hand — no 
weaklings were wanted. Christopher 
Gadsden was made chairman — the 
Samuel Adams of South Carolina. The 
following are some of the gentlemen of 
Huguenot descent we find on the com- 
mittee, names familiar in South Caro- 
lina: Isaac Huger, Maurice Simons, 
Thomas Legere, and others. All had but 
one end in view, the principles of the 
various phases of Protestantism — the 
Puritans, the Covenanters and the Hu- 
guenots — their opinions are so im- 
pressed upon the constitutions of every 
Stat*^ in the Union and upon the con- 
stitution of tha United States that we 
c^.nnot but admit that in a large meas- 
ure the whole superstructure of our laws 
are built upon religious freedom as- 
serted by the Puritans, Covenanters and 
Huguenots. Freedom of conscience in 
matters of belief — freedom of action ar- 
cording to faith — freedom to choose 
teachers and rulers in church and State. 
The laws of entail and primogeniture 
were struck down; feudalism in State 
swept away; every man allowed to wor- 
ship God according to the dictate of 
his own conscience; feudalism of church 
wiped out. The time was ripe — who 
cares about the dates. May 20th or May 
31st, or both? It was a citizenship that 
had come down from independent an- 
cestry. The Stamp Act — exhorbitant 
fees by public officials— the restrictions 
on the clergy other than those of the 
established church— the antipathy of 
some to the English government — the 
dislike to the government on account if 
the fact that the king had disallowed 
the charter to the Presbyterian college, 
(Queen Museum) situated in Charlotte, 
which had been granted by the North 
Carolina Legislature — taxation without 
representation. All these wrongs were 
keenly felt, and the people were restless 
and discontented. At the instance of 
Col. Thomas Polk (a great uncle of 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



President James K. Polk, who was 
born in Mecklenburg) the commander 
of the malitia, two delegates from each 
company were called together at Char- 
lotte as a representative committee. It 
is said that they were notified to meet 
on May 19th. The men selected were: 
the Reverend Hezekiah J. Balch, John 
McKnitt Alexandei', Col. Thomas Polk, 
Hezekiah Alexander, John Phlfer, 
Ephriam Brevard, Adam Alexander, 
James Harris, Charles Alexander, Wil- 
liam Kennon, Zacheus Wilson, Sr., John 
Ford, Waightstill Avery, Richard Barry, 
Benjamin Patton, Henry Downs, Mat- 
thew McClure, Ezra Alexander, Neil 
Morrison, William Graham, Robert 
Irwin, John Query, John Flanniken. 
David Reese, Abraham. Alexander, 
Richard Harris, Sr., John Davidson. 
These men met in the court house, 
which was then standing on what is 
now known as "Independent Square." 
The court house was packed to hear the 
proceedings. The wisest and best men 
had been selected. The meeting was or- 
ganized by Abraham Alexander being 
called to the chair, and John McKnitt 
Alexander being selected as secretary. 
Fiery soeeches were made. A speeclx 
was being made on the burdens 
that had been borne by the peo- 
ple. The unjust taxes that had to 
be paid, the restrictions put on 
the non-conformist, and the speak- 
er expressed the belief that the 
only hope of redress was Independence. 
The test had come. An old man, one of 
the oldest in the convention, arose — 
"How can we declare ourselves free and 
independent?" said he. "Have we not 
sworn allegiance to King George?" A 
middle-aged man arose — he was cool 
and deliberate — he turned to the win- 
dow and looked out — "See that beauti- 
ful oak yonder, with the leaves on it," 
said he, "suppose you swear to do a 
thing as long as those leaves are on the 
tree, and the leaves fall off, are you 
bound by your oath?" The court house 
shook with applause. The tide was 
turning. The King ought to be resisted 
as they were taught, if he "exceed his 
bounds and do against that for which 
he should be obeyed." Men were see.j 
to gather at the large windows in the 
court house looking Southward, (no\y 
South Tryon street) a horseman is sein 
rapidly approaching. He passes Queen's 
Museum — "I^iberty Hall" — the Faneuil 
Hall of North Carolina — he approaches 
the court house, he dismounts, several 
gather around him, he tells them hurrid- 
ly of the news brought to Charleston, 
that innocent blood had been spilt at 
Lexington. In that day the people of 
Mecklenburg were closely allied with 
Charleston, as it was the principle place 
where the people of Mecklenburg and 



the upcountry traded. The young 
horseman was required to tell the con- 
vention of the news brought from 
Boston. The tale was told of how 
their Massachusetts brethren had been 
slain. The warm Southern hearts 
were moved at the wrongs. The oaths 
were forgotten. General Joseph Gra- 
ham wrote some years after that the 
man who in the convention called at- 
tention to the oath, although a strong 
patriot, was for years after looked up- 
on with suspicion. A committee was 
appointed to prepare resolutions de- 
claring themselves free and independ- 
ent. The convention is said to have 
met on May 19th and adjourned to 
May 20th. The following resolutions 
were adopted: 

"1. That whosoever, directly or in- 
directly, abets, or in any way, form or 
manner, countenances the invasion of 
our rights, as attempted by the Parlia- 
ment of Great Britain, is an enemy of 
his country, to America and the rights 
of men." 

"Resolved 2. That we, the citizens of 
Mecklenburg county, do hereby, dis- 
solve the political bands which have 
connected us with the mother country, 
and absolve ourselves from all allegi- 
ance to the British crown, abjure all 
political connection with a nation that 
has wantonly trampled on our rights 
and liberties, and inhumanly shed the 
innocent blood of Americans at Lexing- 
ton." 

"Resolved 3. That we do hereby de- 
clare ourselves a free and independent 
people, that we are and of right ought 
to be, a sovereign and self-governing 
people under th^ power of God and the 
General Congress; to the maintenance 
of which independence, we solemnly 
pledge to each other, our mutual co- 
operation, our lives, our fortunes an! 
our most saored honor." 

"Resolved 4. That we do hereby or- 
dain and adopt as rules of conduct, all 
and each of our former laws, and the 
crown of Great Britain cannot be con- 
sidered hereafter as holding any rights, 
privileges or immunities among us." 

"Resolved 5. That all officers, both 
civil and military, in this county, be •en- 
titled to exercise the same powers and 
authorities as heretofore; that every 
member of this delegation shall hence- 
forth be a civil officer and exercise the 
powers of a Justice of the Peace, issue 
process, hear and determine controver- 
sies according to law, preserve peace, 
union and harmony in the county, and 
use every exertion to spread the love of 
liberty and of country, until a more 
general and better organized system of 
government be established." 

"Resolved 6. That a copy of these 
resolutions be transmitted by express 
to the President of the Continental Con- 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



gress, assembled in Philadelphia, to be 
laid before that body." 

These resolutions were unanimously 
adopted and subscribed by the dele- 
gates. (A spurious copy of the original 
f'eclaiation a few yea;s ago wt=' e-otten 
up in Charlotte with forged signatu'-es 
on it, for the purpose of sale. The orig- 
inal was destroyed by fire.) Captain 
James Jack was engaged to deliver the 
resolutions to the president of Congress; 
and also the delegates in dngress from 
North Carolina. The resolutions were 
read aloud to the people in Charlotte 
and proclaimed amidst shouts and 
huzzas. Capt. Jack, on his way to Phil- 
adelphia, stopped over in Salisbury, and 
court being in session Mr. Kennon a 
lawyer, and one of the signers, read the 
resolutions aloud in open court to a 
large assemblage, and they were ap- 
proved by all present except two law- 
yers, who afterwards were made to 
suffer reverely for their disapproval. 
The Colonial Governor Martin writes 
this to the Secretary of State in Eng- 
land: 

State Paper Office, London, America 
and West, I Vol. 204. 

Bancrofts' Collection, 1775, 153. 
Fort Johnston, North Caiolina, 
30th June, 1775. 
"The minutes of a council held at f'lis 
place the other day, will make the im- 
potence of government here as apparent 
to your Lorriship as anything I can set 
before you, the Board having been 
afraid to take a becoming part, I firm- 
ly believe from apprehensions of per- 
sonal injury and insult • * * 

The situation in which I find myself 
at prosent is mdeed, my Lord, most ^.e- 
spicable and mortifying. * • * • I 
live, alas! ingloriously, only to deplore 
it* * * * The resolves of the 
committee of Mecklenburg, which your 
Lordship will find in the enclosed news- 
paper, surpass all the horrid and trea- 
sonable publications that the inflami- 
tory spirit of the continent have yet 
produced: and your Lordship may de- 
pend, its authors and abettors will not 
' escape, when my hands are sufficiently 
strengthened, to attempt the recovery 
of the lost authority of the government. 
A copy of these resolutions were sent 
off, I am informed by express to the 
Congress at Philadelphia, as soon as 
they were passed in the committee." 

The fierce storm of war then began: 
but fortunately for the Carolinas two 
decisive battles gave them comparative 
quiet for several years. The battle of 
Moore's Creek in North Carolina fought 
Feb. 26th, 1776, and the battle of Fort 
Sullivan in South Carolina, fought June 
28th, 1776. During these stormy times 
the women were not lacking in their de- 
votion to the cause of liberty. A cold 
winter day in the early part of February 



1776, the young ladies of Mecklenburg 
county gathered at "Liberty Hall" and 
took strenuous means to ensure the suc- 
cess of the patriots. The South Carolina 
and American General Gazette, pub- 
lished at the time the following con- 
cerning their proceedings: 

"The young ladies of i:he best families 
of Mfcklenburg county. North Carolina, 
have entered into a voluntary associa- 
tion that they will not leceive the ad- 
dresses of any young gentlemen of that 
place, except the bravi \(.lunteers who 
served in the expediti ni to fc'outh Caro- 
lina, and assisted in subduing the 
Scovalite (Tory) insurgents, the ladies 
being of opinion, tnat such persons as 
stay loitermg at home, when the im- 
portant calls of the country demand 
their military services abroad, must 
certainly be destitute of that nobleness 
of sentiment, that brave manly spirit 
that would qualify them to be the de- 
fenders and guardians o? the fair sex. 
The ladies of the adjoining county, 
l^owan, h.ive desired tne plan of a simi- 
lar association to be drawn up and pre- 
pared lor signature. ' 

Time rolls on— newj is bror.ght to ths 
up country that Charleston has fallen. 
For nearly three nioritiis ill-fed, ill-clad 
and undisciplined militiamen under 
General Lincoln had battled twelve 
thousand of the best disciplined troops 
ot Great Britain. This was May iZlti, 
llao. An instance took place that saved 
Francis Marion from capture. He was 
staying at a house in TraUd street, and 
his host determined that all his guests 
should drink his wine freely, he locked 
the door to prevent their departure. 
Marion would not submit to this act of 
social tyi'anny and leaped from a second 
story window to the ground. His ankle 
was broken and ha was taken to his 
home some distance ?ro n the city, and 
thus was spared to his country. Many 
persons from the Western part of the 
Carolinas were in the city and sur- 
rendered. Among them Dr. Ephriam 
Brevard, one of the sigi^ers, who was a 
surgeon in the continental army, and 
who broken by diseas^i, when set at 
liberty, returned home to I'ie in Meck- 
lenburg. His grave is unlcnown. Thu 
Eastern part of South Carolina was 
absolutely in the power of the British. 
The interior must now ne subdued. Sir 
Henry Clinton immediately after the 
surrender of Chr.rleston sent Lord Crrn- 
wallis towards the frontier of North 
Carolina. Cornwallis heard that Colonel 
Buford with four hundred continentals, 
who had started to the relief of Char- 
leston, had left Camden and was re- 
treating leisurely towards Charlotte. 
He sent a detachment under Tarleton of 
nearly twice Buford's in number to 
overtake him. Tarleton marched in. 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



flfty-four hours one hiandred and five 
miles and came upon Buford on the 
Waxhaw by surprise. Buford sent a flag: 
of truce, and it is related that while ne- 
gotiations were pending and flags of 
conference were passing, Tarleton's 
cavaly fell upon the unsuspecting con- 
tinentals and gave them no quarter. 
This terrible cruelty spread consterna- 
tion over that region, women and chil- 
dren took refuge in more distant sett'V- 
ments. The widowed mother of Presi- 
dent Andrew Jackson left her home 
with her two sons, Robert and Andrew, 
and took refuge in Mecklenburg. They 
stayed with the widow of Rev. J. M. 
Wilson and widow Alexander, (mother 
of Susannah Alexander,) near Charlotte. 
This cruel treatment made an abiding 
impression on young Jackson who was 
then only thirteen years old. Who can 
tell if his early recollection did not in 
after life give him nerve and courage 
to endure and to conquer at New Or- 
leans the foe of his youth? He and his 
brother Robert immediately entered the 
army under General Sumter, They were 
both made prisoners. The indomitable 
courage in the after man appeared m 
the boy, when ordered to clean the mud- 
dy boots of an English officer, he re- 
fused and received for this a sword-cut. 
His mother and two of her sons per- 
ished during the revolution. His mother 
died just after leaving Charleston, 
where she had been to visit friends and 
relatives who were there in prison. He 
alone of the family survived. The blood 
of Buford's men stirred the hearts of 
the patriots in Western Carolina. Gen- 
eral Rutherford raised fifteen hundred 
men whom he brought together at 
Charlotte, this force was sutticient to 
discourage Tarleton. On June 22d the 
Ijoyalist under a Colonel Moore were de- 
feated at Ramseur's Mill by Colonel 
Locke, who had a detachment of Rutii- 
erford's force. General Sumter at this 
critical period, with a force of Nortn 
and South Carolians, returned to his 
State, and on July 12th defeated Colonel 
Furgerson and Capt. Houck at Wil- 
liamson's plantation in the Western 
part of the State. His success brought 
many recruits to him and he was again 
successful at Hanging Rock. Many 
partisan bands now hurried to join 
Gates who had taken charge of the 
Southern army and was moving to- 
wards Camden where he was sent to 
meet Lord Rawdon and Lord Corn- 
wallis; but alas! it was a fearful meet- 
ing for the continentals. Gates was de- 
feated, the brave DeKalb was left with 
eleven wounds on him and soon died. 
General Rutherford was compelled to 
surrender. This was August 16th. Gen- 
eral Gates hastened to Charlotte and 
reached there — eighty miles away, the 



same day of the battle. On his way he 
was informed of Sumter's splendid vic- 
tory taking Fort Carey on the Wateree. 
When Sumter heard of Gates' defeat he 
commenced retreating up the SouLh side 
of the Wateree river. He was pursued 
by Tarleton with his wonderful clerity, 
who overtook and surprised Sumter at 
Fishing Creek. It is said that General 
Sumter escaped in his night clothes. 
Sumter came to Charlotte a day or two 
afterwards. He never forgave Tarleton 
for having caught him napping, and 
Nov. 20th following engaged him in bat- 
tle at Black Stock Hill with such severe 
results that one-third of Tarleton'3 
privates engaged were killed. Sumter 
was fortunate in having the mountain 
country of the Carolinas to draw upon 
for assistance. In his command were 
such men as Colonel William Hill, an- 
cester of General D. H. Hill. It now 
looked like the Carolinas were subdued. 
Lord Cornwallis commenced his march 
toward Charlotte to establish his head- 
quarters. Behind him he left the un- 
yielding Huguenots, in front were the 
determined Scotch-Irish Covenanters. 
Both were equal to the emergency. 
Johnson in his Traditions and Remin- 
iscences of the Revolution, says: 

"Among the most efficient of Marion's 
men were his neighbors and friends of 
Huguenot descent, the Horry's, Simons, 
Ravenels, Cordea", Dubas, et.\" The 
writer gives two incidents to show the 
desperate couraae of these men— on 
Aug. 18th, 1780, Col. H. Horry, with 16 
militia releases 150 prisoners, guarded 
by 32 British soldiers. On Nov. 20th 
1780, Col. James Simons of Washing- 
ton's troop, with 36 men, routs Col. 
Cunningham with 150 British militia. 
We think of Cromwell at Dunbar. "Let 
God arise, and let His enemies be scat- 
tered." Nelson at Trafalgar displaying 
the signal— "England expects every man 
to do his duty." Wellington at Water- 
loo as he shouted to his troops: "Boys, 
can retreat be thought of? Think of old 
England." Napoleon at the battle of the 
Pyramids— "forty centuries look down 
upon you." To inspire the youth of our 
land, let us remember Washington at 
Valley Forge and Marion at Snow l3- 
land. Hope had died in the hearts of al- 
most every Southern patriot. Marion 
kindled once more the spark. Who has 
not heard of the instance? the captured 
English officer taken to Snow Island in 
the swamps, the rendezvous of Marion 
and his men, Marion inviting him to 
dine with him, and handing the officer 
cold water and sweet potatoes for din- 
ner. He asked Marion If that was what 
he and his men lived on. Marion told 
him it was. The Englishman said: "I 
can no longer fight against such brave 
men and patriots." When he was ex- 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



changed he returned to England, never 
more to fight against the Americans. 
Adversity shows the character of a 
people. Many of the rich and cowardly 
sought protection from Cornwallis to 
save their property from confiscation 
and for other sinister motives, but those 
who loved freedom and served thetr 
conscience sprung by leaps and bounds 
to the front. No sooner had Cornwallis 
started towards Charlotte, thinking all 
behind was safe, than Marion and his 
men made the patriots' hearts glad 
with their marvelous exploits. Colonel 
Henry Lee, (father of the Confederate 
chieftain) who served with Marion, says 
of him: — "small in statue, hard in vis- 
age, healthy, abstemious and taciturn, 
enthusiastically wedded to the cause of 
liberty, he deeply deplored the condition 
of his beloved country. The common 
weal was his sole object; nothing sel- 
fish, nothing mercenary soiled his 
ermine character. Fertile in stratagem, 
he struck unperceived; and, retiring to 
those hidden retreats selected by him- 
self in the morasses of the Pee Dee and 
Black rivers, he placed his corps not 
only out of the reach of his foe, but 
often out of the discovery of his friends. 
A rigid disciplinarian, he reduced to 
practice the justice of his heart; and 
during the difficult course of warfare 
through which he passed, calumny it- 
self never charged him with violating 
the rights of persons, property or hu- 
manity, never avoiding danger, he never 
rashly sought it; and acting for all 
around him as he did for himself, he 
rLsked the lives of his troops only when 
it was necessary. Neither elated with 
prosperity, nor depressed by adversity, 
he preserved an equanimity which won 
the admiration of friends and exacted 
the respect of his enemies." Can higher 
tribute be paid to any man? Such was 
the hero who with McDowell, Morgan, 
Davidson, Lee, Sumter, Pickens and 
others did so much to redeem the South. 
We here take leave of these patriots' 
examples and commend them to the 
youth of all ages. 

The battle of Camden was foTight 
August 16th, 1870. Major William Rich- 
ardson Davie's corps had suffered se- 
verely with Sumter at Hanging Rock, 
South Carolina,and he had been escort- 
ing to Charlotte the wounded to the hos- 
pital which he had previously estab- 
lished. After performing this service 
Davie hastened to the general ren- 
dezvous of General Gates, Rugely's Mill. 
He arrived on the 15th, after Gates had 
moved, and after marching all night, 
met our flying troops. General Huger 
informed him of the fate of the Ameri- 
cans. Malor Davie at once did all in his 
power to relieve the situation. He had 
served with Sumter, and, as has been 



mentioned, Sumter was defeated at 
Fishing Creek by Tarleton a few days 
after the battle of Camden, so the bur- 
dens of defending this section were 
shifted to Davie. Bravely did he bear 
them. In 1780, he had obtained license 
to practice law, but seeing the need of 
his country, he again took up arms. He 
was now twenty-four years old. He had 
been wounded near Charleston the year 
before. The State being too poor he sold 
the little property he had and raised the 
funds to equip the troops under him. 
Such was the man who now returned to 
defend Charlotte. He had' been a stu- 
dent at "Queen's Museum." He had 
heard the eloquent words of Dr. Alex- 
ander McWhorter, the President of 
Queen's Museum on June 3rd, when he 
had addressed the troops under General 
Rutherford. (One of Dr. McWhoiter's 
sisters, Jane, married John Brevard, 
and another, Agnes, married Alexander ( 
Osborne.) Davie determined that Char- ' 
lotte should not be taken without re- 
sistence. This was September 5th. He 
had been recently made colonel. Corn- 
wallis was slowly approaching. Davie 
went forward with his small force to 
harrass his foraging parties. He was ac- 
companied by MaJ. George Davidson. 
They took post at Providence, on the 
Charlotte road. On the evening of Sep- 
tember the 20th they decamped and de- 
termined to strike a blow at the Loyal- 
ist encamped at the plantation of Cap- 
tain James Wahab (whose name wa" 
later changed to Walkup) in the South- 
western part of Union county, ther 
Mecklenburg. Many of his troops wen 
from that section. Early next morninf 
they gained unperceived the camp of th 
Loyalist. The house and yard were al- 
most surrounded by a splendid cornfield. 
He detached Major Davidson through 
the cornfield and he himself took the 
lane leading to the house. The enemy 
were completely surprised and fied, 
sixty were killed and wounded, ninety- 
six horses were taken, and one hundred 
and twenty stands of arms. The British 
drums in contiguous quarters then beat 
to arms. Captain Wahab, the owner of 
the farm, spent a few minutes halt In 
rapt converse with his wife and chil- 
dren, who ran out as soon as the firing 
ceased, to embrace their protector. Bit- 
ter followed those sweet moments. The 
British troops, reaching the house, the 
commander yielded to diabolical fury 
and ordered it burnt. Wahab saw his 
home that £:lieltered his wife and little 
children, wrapped in fiames, and he un- 
able to relieve them. Davie made good j 
his retreat and returned to Providence, j 
having marched sixty miles in twenty- 
four hours. Generals Sumter and Da- 
vidson arrived the evening of his re- 
turn. They had about one thousand 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



men and Davie less than two hun- 
dred. Four days after the affair at 
Wahab's, Cornwallis put his army in 
motion, taking the Steel Creek road to 
Charlotte. This being announced to 
General Sumter he retired, leaving 
Colonel Davie who was strengthened 
by Major Joseph Graham. Major 
Graham, like Colonel Davie, had been 
"*i student at "Queen's Museum." He had 
, .)een in Charlotte when the Declaration 
>f Independence on May 20th, 1775, was 
ormerly and publicly made. He was 
ieeply impressed with the Importance 
}f the struggle, and no man acted a 
araver part. 

At midnight, September 25th, 1780, this 
ittle band of heroes reached Charlotte 
Vext day the battle of Charlotte took 
place. I give the account as narrated by 
Oolonel Davie: "Charlotte, situated on 
I rising ground, contains about twenty 
louses, built on two streets which cross 
?ach other at right angles, at the inter- 
jection of which stands the court house 
(Independence Square.) The left of the 
town, as the enemy advanced, was an 
open common on the woods which 
reached up to the gardens of the vil- 
lage. With this small force, viz: one 
lundred and fifty cavalry and mounted 
nfantry and fourteen volunteers under 
VTajor Graham, Davie determined fo 
rive his Lordship a foretaste of what he 
night expect in North Carolina. For th^ 
arpose he dismounted one company, 
nd posted it under the court house, 
■^here the men were covered breast- 
igh by a stone wall. Two other comx- 
anies were advanced about eighty 
'ards, and posted behind some houses 
■ad in gardens on each side of the 
.'reet. While this disposition was mak- 
ing, the Legion (Tarleton's) was form- 
ing at the distance of three hundred 
yards, with a front to fill the South 
Tryon street, and the light infantry on 
their flanks. On sounding the charge, 
the cavalry advanced at full gallop 
within sixty yards of the court house, 
where they received the American fire, 
and retreated with great precipitation. 
As the Infantry continued to advance, 
notwithstanding the fire of our ad- 
vanced companies, who were too few to 
keep them in check, it became neces- 
sary to withdraw them from the cross 
street, and form them in line with the 
troops under the court house. The flanks 
were "tin .engaged with the infantry, 
but the center was directed to reserve 
their fire for the cavalry, who rallied on 
their former ground and returned to the 
charge. 

They were again well received by the 
militia, and galloped off In great con- 
fusion, in the presence of the whole 
British army. As the British infantry 
were now bCiglnning to turn Colonel 



Davie's right flank, these companies 
were drawn off in good order, succes- 
sively covering each other, and formed 
at the end of the street about one hun- 
dred yards from the court house, under 
a galling fire from the British light in- 
fantry, who had advanced under the 
cover of the houses and gardens. The 
British cavalry again appeared, charg- 
ing by the court house, but upon re- 
ceiving a fire, which had been reserved 
for them, they again scampered off. 
Lord Cornwallis in his vexation at the 
repeated miscarriage of his cavalry 
openly abused their cowardice. The 
Legion, reinforced by the infantry 
pressed forward on our flanks, and the 
ground was no longer tenable by this 
handful of brave men. A retreat was 
then ordered on the Salisbury road, and 
the enemy followed, with great caution 
and respect, for some miles, when they 
ventured • to charge the rear guards. 
The guards were of course put to flight, 
but on receiving- the fire of a single 
company, they retreated. Our loss con- 
sisted of Lieutenant Locke, and four 
privates killed, and Major Graham and 
five privates wounded. The British 
stated their loss at twelve non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates killed, and 
Major Hanger, Captains Campbell and 
McDonald, and thirty privates wound- 
ed. In the engagement Major Graham 
received nine wounds, six with the sa- 
bre and three n-ith lead. He was mer- 
cifully spared to his country. This brave 
youth, only twenty-one years of age, as 
soon as he recovered from his wounds 
returned to the army. Cornwallis' stay 
in Mecklenburg was a stormy one. He 
had a large army which had to be fed. 
The Mecklenburg men were determined. 
Colonel Polk had a mill (old Blssell 
mill) about two miles Southwest of 
Charlotte, the British pickets were at- 
tacked there. On October 5th a foraging 
party of about four hundred under Ma- 
jor Doyle went towards the fertile re- 
gion of Long Creek. While plundering 
Mclntyre's farm, about seven miles 
North of Charlotte, twelve men under 
Captain James Thompson attacked and 
actually drove the British raiders from 
the farm. The British loss was so severe 
that the survivers upon reaching Char- 
lotte declared "every bush along the 
road concealed a rebel." Lieutenant 
George Graham was one of this brave 
party. He was a brother of Joseph Gra- 
ham, and was a strong, courageous 
man. He is buried In the old Presby- 
terian cemetery in Charlotte. He was 
active during Lord Cornwallis' stay In 
Charlotte attacking his foraging par- 
ties. On October 7th Major Ferguson 
was defeated at Kings's Mountain and 
slain. He was one of Cornwallis' most 
trusted ofllcers. Upon Cornwallis hear- 



8 



THE HORNET'S NEST. 



ing of the defeat Charlotte was Imme- 
diately evacuated. This was on the 
evening of October 14th. We read in 
Tarleton's campaigns this about Meck- 
lenburg: 

"It was evident and it has been fre- 
quently mentioned to the King's officers, 
that the counties of Mecklenburg and 
Rowan were more hostile than any 
of'ero i 1 / nierica " Wt, read this about 
Charlotte: 

"The town and environs abounded 
with inveterate enemies," when later 
the suggestion was made to go by Char- 
lotte, he says: "The route by Charlotte 
town through the most hostile quarter 
of the Drovince on many accounts not 
advisable." Cornwallis later on his way 
North did not go by Charlotte, b'lt 
went North of Charlotte and crossed at 
Cowan's Ford. In a letter to Colonel 
Balfour, of the British army, Cornwal- 
lis says: 'Charlotte is an agreeable vil- 
lage, but in a d — d rebellious country." 
When Cornwallis retired from Char- 
lotte, he halted upon Robert Wilson s 
plantation, and himself and staff quar- 
tered at the house of the patriot. The 
Wilsons were all staunch Scotch-Irish, 
and sturdy Republicans. The wife of 
Robert Wilson, (a brother of Zacheu.s, 
a signer) had "seven sons in the rebel 
army," and also her husband. Mrs. Wil- 



son was very courteous, and Cornwallis 
endeavored to win her to the Royal 
cause by flattering words. Her reply de- 
serves to be inscribed upon brass and 
marble: "I have seven sons who are 
now, or have been, bearing arms; in- 
deed, my seventh son, Zacheus, who is 
only fifteen years old, I yesterday as- 
sisted to get ready to go and join his 
trotLor-^ in Sumier's army. Now, soon- 
er than see one of my family turn 
back from the glorious enterprise, I 
would take those boys, (pointing to 
three or four small sons) and with them 
would myself enlist under Sumter's 
standard and show my husband and 
sons how to fight; and if necessary, how 
to die for their country." Ah, General, 
said the cruel Tarleton, "I think you've 
got into a Hornet's Nest." Cornwallis' 
reply was: "Never mind, when we get 
to Camden, I'll take good care that old 
Robin Wilson never gets back again." 

On the spot where Queen's Museum 
once stood is the county court house. In 
front is a handsome monument erected 
to the signers of the Mecklenburg De- 
claration of Independence. On one side 
are the names of the signers. On the 
other side facing South Tryon street Is 
a Hornet's Nest, and on it are these 
words: "Let us alone." 








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